Lupita Nyong’o in Talks to Star in John Woo's ‘The Killer’ Remake

John Woo is directing a remake of his 1989 Hong King crime classic and the "Black Panther" star is in talks to play the titular assassin, first originated by Chow Yun Fat.

"The Killer" was a seminal film, widely copied for its balletic, stylized action scenes. It's described as a "blistering thriller that blends espionage with extraordinary stunts." In the original, the assassin accidentally damages the eyes of a young singer (Sally Yeh) and ends up falling in love with her. He decides to do one last job in order to pay for eye surgery, but things get complicated by the investigation of a police detective.

With Lupita Nyong'o in the lead role, the remake appears to employ a gender-swap twist — though it's unclear if the singer would be male or female.

Woo last directed 2017's "Manhunt." Oscar winner Nyong'o is coming off "Black Panther" and a CGI cameo in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," and can next be seen in "Little Monsters."